Sunday, August 02, 2015, 5:34 p.m.

Bull Shoals police chief indicted in excessive-force case

The Bull Shoals police chief has been indicted on a charge related to his use of excessive force in the 2013 arrest of a town resident, authorities said Friday.

Daniel Sutterfield, 35, has been charged with one count of deprivation of rights, U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge said in a statement. Sutterfield is accused of using excessive force by kicking, stomping and using a Taser on a man who was already in handcuffs, as well as hitting him with a shotgun butt.

According to an affidavit filed in the case, Sutterfield and an officer responded to a Bull Shoals residence July 9, 2013, after a woman reported she had been abused by her live-in boyfriend.

The boyfriend, identified as Nicholas Dore, wouldn't open the door or come out, and Sutterfield later forced entry and shocked him twice with a Taser before placing him in handcuffs, the affidavit said.

"After Dore was placed in handcuffs, Sutterfield kicked Dore repeatedly and repeatedly struck Dore with the butt stock of his police shotgun," FBI special agent Tim K. Akins wrote in the affidavit. "Sutterfield then instructed Dore to get up, who responded that he could not. Sutterfield then used the taser to stun Dore again repeatedly."

Another officer left the residence and returned to find Dore "bleeding from the head," Akins added.

A second officer at the scene told investigators Sutterfield also threw Dore "into a fireplace and into a wall" while he was handcuffed, Akins wrote.

If convicted on the charge, Sutterfield faces up to 10 years in prison.

Displaying 1 - 10 of 13 total comments

Ten Years is not enough. There is no excuse for such behavior. Sutterfield is a danger to society and yet his duty is to protect the public. How long did this savagery take place and why did none of the officers at the scene restrain Sutterfield?Does this lack of action on their part make them accomplice's? Will they be charged?

Everyone seems quick to throw stones; I wasn't there and neither were any of you. I certainly don't condone this, but maybe the chief felt like a little "eye for an eye" justice was in order, since this man was apparently beating his girlfriend. It obviously went way too far, as anger is prone to make us do. I can recall a few times in my lifetime when I wanted to beat the life out of an adult who was abusing (not punishing) a child in public. Didn't make it right, but I still wanted to do it.

WOW, really? All these comments and only one stated that he's a cowardly woman beater?! He was teaching him a lesson. I'm not condoning violence that causes SERIOUS injuries, but a good butt whoopin is what a man, or boy should I say, deserves. Maybe he'll think twice about hitting a woman again